Rajat Subhra Chatterjee
0021
Now that India loses again against possibly the weakest South African side in recent times, with the same nucleus of Ravi Shastri’s team under a new coach-Rahul Dravid, who now should be discredited?
Unlike Football which is essentially a Coach / Manager’s Team and runs at his choice and strategy, Cricket is completely a different game where Coach / Manger’s role is supportive with little bit of strategic. This is surely a Captain’s game who takes decision on the spot while the game is on and certain decisions of captains have changed the course of the game altogether. If we look at Indian cricket only, the game has always belonged to the Captains – be it Tiger Pataudi to Gavaskar to Ganguly to Dhoni. These had been teams of the captains rather than their Coaches. John Wright was a good supportive coach of Indian team but the most decisions were all Ganguly’s. Credit or discredit had always gone to Ganguly. Not to Wright. How many had applauded Wright for the win against Australia at the Eden in 2001 ? Was Wright blamed for India’s defeat in the 2003 World Cup Final? No. Rather Ganguly was praised to have taken the team to the Finals. How many voices credited Wright when Ganguly stamped an authoritative 144 in the 1st Test at Brisbane that set the tone of the series in 2003-04? Ganguly was all in all.
Similarly, his predecessors Pataudi and Gavaskar had huge influence from selection of the squad to choice of playing XI. Preferring the spin quartet in place of pace was Pataudi’s choice even in England & Australia. G R Viswnath would have remained unseen in International cricket had not Pataudi enforced his selection going against the Chairman of the then Selection Committee for which Pataudi of course had to bear the brunt during 1970 team selection. SMG structured his team for the 1985 Benson & Hedges Cup in Australia and that was a winning combination !! Dhoni was adamant in omitting the seniors argumenting their slow movements on field. Ganguly was made to retire in a series against Australia in 2008 even after scoring 102 in the 2nd Test at Mohali and 85 in the 4th Test at Nagpur. Gary Kirsten, the coach was not blamed. Make no mistake.
So why take shots at Ravi Shastri ? Yes, Shastri has spoken a bit more than necessary. His infamous quote of “ Best ever travelling side” .. has been much maligned. Yes, Shastri may have allowed certain things to drift away with Kohli the Captain who seems to have misused his power disastrously and an unpleasant atmosphere was created in Team India Dressing room as reported. From that angel, yes, Shastri must take the blame. But this man had the guts, confidence and clear vision for his team which was transmitted to his captains – Dhoni and Kohli, both strong individuals though Kohli went out of control. This has been Shastri’s only blemish as the Head Coach.
Virat Kohli seems to have disorganized his cricket. Focus has gone, else, he could not have made it a habit to chase seventh stump balls repeatedly to get caught at slip cordon. Even the presence of Dravid has not been a remedy !
Shastri took over the reign as Director-Team India in 2014/15 in the backdrop of humiliating defeats of Dhoni’s team under coach Duncan Fletcher earlier in England and Australia both by 0-4 margins with both Tendulkar and Dravid in the team. He initially planned to stop the bleeding from the wound. Then he concentrated on improvement with his no-nonsense attitude. Admittedly, during Shastri’s tenure, India could not win any ICC championship, yet Test wins in South Africa, Australia, England, New Zealand are testimony of success. Winning Test matches are also very important now as these are counted for the World Test Championship. Shastri at least could guide India to Test Championship Finals. Shastri only had spoken in public a bit too much, yet, the meaning was no nonsense !
As a slow left arm spin bowler, he started batting at no 10. But during his illustrious career, he batted at all the numbers excepting at no 11. He has 11 Test hundreds in 80 matches. No joke.
As an opener, at Karachi in 1983, his 121 against the rampaging Imran Khan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Abdul Qadir, in 1990, his 100 at Lords & 187 at Oval, in 1992 at Sydney his 206 against McDermott, Bruce Reid, Merv Hughes, Shane Warne, in 1983 at no 6 in St. John’s his 102 against Andy Roberts. Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall and in 1984 at Faisalabad, his 139 are some high points of Shastri, beside his 151 Test wickets and hugely successful ODI records.
Adjudged as the Champion of Champions in 1985 at the Benson & Hedges Mini-World Cup in Australia with sterling all-round performances, he was the only cricketer to have played in all the five matches and delivered his full quota of 50 Overs in the tournament.
Shastri was being tipped to become India’s permanent Captain after Kapil Dev. A deep thinker and a shrewd strategist, Shastri ultimately led India to victory in the only Test he captained – against West Indies at Madras in 1987-88 in the absence of injured captain Vengsarkar and won the Test by 255 runs, brilliantly handling Narendra Hirwani taking 16 for 136.
——————————-
These highs of Shastri’s career are too good to rubbish him as a cricketing brain. Huge experience, super performances and spirited presence made Ravi Shastri an automatic choice for the post of India Head Coach. If that was not liked by some one in power or a section of press, its their problem. Shastri’s figures can not be altered. Well, he could have projected a more sensual profile of himself.
Featured Image : courtesy Internet.
